Widow Missy Kingston takes on the job of a lifetime, and it’s not the one at her town’s animal shelter. It’s Halloween season, and the local animal shelter’s pooch adoption manager, Missy Kingston, is excited to show off the available dogs at her town’s Halloween festival! But when she discovers the festival’s organizer dead in a pile of pumpkins, Missy’s convinced there’s more to the story than … to the story than meets the eye.
When Missy sets out to investigate the murder on her own, what she discovers could solve the case, but only if the killer doesn’t get to her first.
If you love dogs, and you love small town mysteries, you’ll love Missy Kingston and the Pooch Party Cozy Mystery Series! Get it now!
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This is the first book in a new series. You’ll want to love dogs if you read this–it’s heavily dog-centric. The information about running a dog rescue was very interesting, and the main character, who is a widow, has given most of her large inheritance to support this well-deserved charity. It was the perfect book to read in October, since there is a fall festival going on and pumpkins are prominent in the story. The murder method was quite creative and there were several red herrings, but good resolution to the mystery. There’s just a hint of a possible future romance for the main character–just enough of a tiny dangle. I’ve loved everything I’ve ever read by this author, and I think this is a promising start to the new series. I received an arc of this book, but these opinions are my own.
Pooches, Pumpkins and Poison is the first in the series of Carolyn Ridder Aspenson and it was so enjoyable. Widow Missy Kingston started volunteering at an animal shelter for the past years as their canine adoption manager. She enjoys helping where animals find their own forever home. Missy has been hard at working on the Halloween Festival Pooch Party to help the rescues. She has two of her own recuses from the shelter, named Bandit and Allie. When Missy find Traci Fielding in the pseudo pumpkin patch dead while getting read for the Halloween Festival Pooch Party. Seeing Traci brought back memories of finding her husband, Sam dead…so sad. It seems that someone put cyanide poisoning on the pumpkins near Traci and everyone thinks her husband, Jake may have killed his to be ex-wife. Then someone decides since Missy is asking questions to vandalize her pooch party area and used cyanide on the pumpkins in mIssy’s area. Now this getting too close for comfort! Will Missy find out who killed Traci? And who trying to stop her pooch parties from happening at the Halloween Festival?
As someone who has 3 rescued furdaughters, and has been a furmum to rescue dogs all my life, this book is one I will cherish for many years to come. Ms. Aspenson is one of my favourite authors and her books never let me down. Always filled with mystery, intrigue and strong female lead characters. You just can’t go wrong with a mix like that. But to also have cherished furbabies in the story, too? Well, that’s a keeper every time for me! Loved every minute of it and will definitely be reading it again!
Pooches, Pumpkins, and Poison is a great start to a new cozy mystery. Missy Kingston is a widow who runs a local dog adoption shelter who also does training while at a fair finds a dead body she then investigates. I love this another winner by this great author who is becoming one of my favorites. I recommend this read
I received an ARC for a honest review
This is the first book in what I expect to be a fun cozy series. Missy, who manages the local animal shelter, finds a body in the Halloween Festival’s pumpkin patch. As Missy investigates, she fears she may be the next victim. The writing is fresh and skillful. Both the two and four legged characters are well drawn and amusing. It was an enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to future installments. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
I enjoy cozy mysteries with dogs. I also enjoy Carolyn Ridder Aspenson’s writing. I figured I was going to like Pooches, Pumpkins and Poison. It went beyond my expectations though. I am already invested in this series. I adore the main character, Missy. She is down to earth, smart and caring. The love she has for her dogs, and the shelter dogs, can be felt through the pages. I loved how much of the dogs, their care and training the author put into the story. I was never a fan of shock collars but after reading this, I understand their use and place better. I absolutely love when a book I’m reading teaches me something! I actually learned a few things while being entertained. That is the bonus with this author’s writing. She has a way of imparting knowledge that is wrapped well into the story. You don’t even realize you are being schooled while you read. The mystery was well done with several suspects and red herrings. I was surprised by the villain. There was some romance, too. Missy isn’t ready yet but there is the future, right? Her daughter has an interest, too, and as a mother of grown daughters, I was relating to Missy a lot. I think this cozy mystery may be the first that had me shedding a few happy tears. It is definitely a book that offers something in a couple of genres.
I was gifted an ARC. My review is based on my thoughts and feelings while reading and my reflection afterwards. I highly recommend this book. It is one of those books you wish you could give more than five stars to. I’m already looking forward to the next one!
What could be better than a party with puppies, everyone loves dogs right? Apparently not as it seems someone is willing to kill to keep the pooch party out of the festival! A great new series with a strong female lead who is willing to go to the mat to get her shelter dogs adopted! In fact, the book is laden with interesting characters who are well developed and easy to connect with. Add that to an interesting plot that is wrought with intrigue and you have an afternoon of delightful entertainment on your agenda! I can’t wait to see how the characters develop and what they get into in the next book!
I was so delighted when I learned of this new cozy mystery series. Not only was it written by one of my very favorite authors, I had an immediate connection with the main character, Missy, who is a widow who has donated most of her husband’s life insurance proceeds to the animal shelter and started a training and adoption program for dogs, a woman after my own heart. While setting up for a local festival she stumbles upon the body of the festival’s coordinator, who was poisoned by cyanide, and Missy’s life is threatened as well. Also fighting opposition of her adoption program by a few misguided individuals, Missy finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and must solve the mystery to save herself and her beloved pooches! I just love this series, and its characters, and can’t wait for the next one! A fairly fast read, in part because it is so hard to put down!
Pooches, Pumpkins and Poison by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson is an easy afternoon read to celebrate fall festivals and dog adoptions.
Ms. Aspenson’s writing is comfortable and her research into dog training is evident in this story. A quickly paced plot, several suspects, poison, threats to widow Missy Kingston and her dogs kept it an intriguing read. I’m hooked on this new series and look forward to reading the next one.
The author provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.